If you rode a bicycle, you'd be home by now

Hitting the last leg of a bicycle ride near my home on a beautiful spring afternoon on Tuesday, I stumbled on this scene along southbound Interstate 405 between Bellevue and Renton.

Bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic crawling along as far as the eye could see, right next to a wide open bike lane.

I wondered if those people in the cars and trucks thought about what it would be like to ride along this stretch on a bicycle. They probably get to think about it a lot. This backup isn't uncommon here; it's pretty much a daily occurrence.

LaHood

It got me to thinking about US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement about a major policy revision that puts walking and bicycling on an equal footing with motorized transportation. The needs of bicyclists and pedestrians will be integrated in all federally funded road projects.

Look, bike projects are relatively fast and inexpensive to build and are environmentally sustainable; they reduce travel costs, dramatically improve safety and public health, and reconnect citizens with their communities.

It's great that the federal transporation department will stop favoring motorized traffic at the expense of non-motorized traffic.

Someone already must have had that idea many years ago here to build this bike trail; the only other route goes up and over some nearby hills. But that wasn't enough to convince these people stuck in traffic to try bicycling instead of motoring.

Bike commuters use this path; I see them whenever I get out for an early morning ride. Their numbers begin to grow this time of year. Maybe if the motorists see more people toodling along on bikes while they're stuck in their cars, then they'll give bicycling a try.

Bike to Work Day

One big event coming up to encourage bicycle commuting is Bike To Work Day on May 21.

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